Catholic Churches of NCC includes: Saint Patrick Parish Seneca WI; Saint Philip Parish Rolling Ground WI; Saint Mary Parish Gays Mills WI; St James Cemetery Rising Sun WI; Kneeland Cemetery Seneca WI catholicchurchesofncc.com

20^th Sunday of Ordinary Time     August 17, 2025

St. Mary, St. Patrick, St. Philip Parishes

Mail address for all three parishes:  PO Box 35, Seneca WI 54654

Website: https://www.catholicchurchesofncc.com

Confessions: Normally, 30 minutes before

every Mass and by appointment.

Normal Monthly Eucharistic Adoration:

St. Patrick: First Friday after the 8:30 AM Mass

St. Philip: First Sunday after the 10:30 AM Mass

Mass Intentions This Week

Pastor: Fr. Tom Huff – frtomhuff@gmail.com St. Patrick's Rectory 608-734-3252

Bookkeeper: Angie Martin -- 608-734-3931 stpatricks.seneca.bookkeeper@gmail.com

Bulletin/Mass Intentions/Membership: Yvonne Hady -- 608 485-2109 hadyy@mwt.net

Bulletin Information Deadline: Tuesdays at 4:00 PM. Bulletin is posted on our website.

UPCOMING PARISH EVENTS

Wed., Aug. 20 Adult Faith Study at St. Mary’s, 7:00 PM

Sunday, September 14^th –St. Patrick’s Pork Chop Dinner

Mass Schedule Changes: St. Mary’s at 8:30 AM, St. Patrick’s at 10:00 AM

St. Philip’s at 10:30 AM with Msgr. Scheckel

Income from Last Week

1,779.75

From the Priest’s Corner: Fire and Division on Earth

It’s startling to hear the words in today’s Gospel. Whatever happened to the Christmas message about peace on earth and good will toward all? How can the Prince of Peace utter such words? There are those who think of Jesus as being accepting and tolerant of all things and toward all people. If He had He would never have been crucified. The truth is, that He was not. His mission and teachings angered some people, while bringing joy and freedom to others.

Does being a Catholic, or being an American for that matter, mean that we should approve of anyone and anything? Does charity require that we accept everyone and everything? Are we to compromise our Christian moral beliefs and values? When Jesus tells us that He has come to bring division and not peace, He is telling us that peace should not be accepted at any price.

Some people want to be a “people pleaser” to avoid conflicts. But this often leads to unexpected stress, depression, and the excessive consumption Tums or Rolaids. Conflict avoidance in matters that are morally important actually solves nothing. We are told that religion and our religious values have no place in the public forum. We are told to keep our Christian moral values private. But can America be America without its foundation in Christian moral values? If not Christian, then what common moral values is America supposed to have for its future?

Sometimes Catholics and other Christians are called, mean-spirited, hateful or divisive for standing up for Christian moral principles. Just by pointing out the evil of abortion, can unleash all sorts vile nastiness and hated. What was it Jesus said? “From now on a household of five will be divided, three against two and two against three. . .” When people make fun of our Catholic faith do we challenge them? When the group we’re in wants to do things we know are morally wrong, do we simply go along with them? Certain business practices are morally wrong; do we refuse to be part of it? Sexual promiscuity and pornography seem so prevalent in our culture, do we fight against these things so as to keep them out of our lives and our society?

We need to remember that many Catholics were martyred because they had the very same moral values we hold today. King Henry VIII beheaded Bishop Fisher and Thomas More, because they refused to compromise their beliefs in marriage. Even now there are parts of the world where Christians are being imprisoned or even beheaded simply for being a Christian. The events surrounding the birth of Jesus are presented to us in beautiful images. Yet, the Church intentionally celebrates her first martyr, Saint Stephen, the day after Christmas. And on the following day, the Church honors the baby martyrs of Bethlehem, killed by King Herod.

Who, then, brings division, hatred, strife, and conflict into our world; people with Christian moral values or people who have immoral values or no moral values at all? Jesus told us, "If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you.” His mission was the salvation of humanity, which brought with it, fire and division, acceptance or rejection. His mission and His teachings angered some people, while bringing joy and freedom to others. Which ones are we?

Town Hall Meeting - Your Presence is Needed! This fall, Bishop Battersby is inviting all of us to begin a serious process of renewal and conversion, personally and institutionally, throughout the Diocese of La Crosse. You are invited to attend a 90-minute session at a location near you. A team will travel to facilitate 40 of these, inviting all of us to share in the first steps of what will be an extended process of strategic and pastoral planning. Only by gaining clarity on our shared mission in Christ can we decide how best to live our lives and how best to structure our parishes to support that mission. Our closest option will be at St. Wenceslaus in Eastman on Sunday, September 7 at 7pm. All Catholics in Crawford County are strongly encouraged to attend that evening. Beginning next weekend, please look for brochures with more information.

St. Philip Announcements:

St. Philip Candles: Contact Bonnie Murphy. The cost is $5 per candle.

St. Mary Announcements:

Rosary – 30 minutes before Mass -- St. Mary’s Church is open each day from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM. You are welcome to stop in to pray and/or light a candle for your special intention.

First Sunday Potluck – Potluck brunch after Mass each first Sunday of the month. All are welcome, dish to share is appreciated, but not required. Next potluck is Sept. 6^th.

St. Mary’s Religious Education Classes will begin in the middle of September. Please register your children/grandchildren, first grade through pre-confirmation by August 17 so we will have time to order supplies. We also hope to have a post-confirmation class. We are in need of at least 1 addition teacher this year. There is a sign-up sheet in the back of the church. Further questions, contact Yvonne Hady at 485-2109 or hadyy@mwt.net

St. Patrick Announcements:

St. Patrick’s Religious Education: Wed, Aug 20, 7 pm --Teacher’s meeting
Anyone interested to teach religious education during the year, please reach out to Susie Garfoot 608 317 0515. Please consider sharing your time and talent.
Sunday, Sept 7 following 7:30 am Mass, Religious Education students and parents will meet in the hall to prepare for the year, Regular Religious Education class schedule starts Sept 21 following Mass at 8:15, taking the week of the bazaar off.

Fall Dinner/Bazaar Sunday, September 14th

Sign-up sheets are available in the back of the church. Please consider signing up for more than one shift, if you are able. Thank you for giving your time to make the bazaar successful.
Smoked Pork Chop Dinner is served from 11- 2 pm that day with a pie auction, games and basket raffle.
If you would like to donate to the raffle tickets or basket raffle, please call or text Susie Garfoot at 608-317-0515.
Each family is asked to provide:
• Five $.25 items for Parcel Post game – Wrapped and Marked Boy or Girl
(please no chocolate items nor items for adults)
• Bingo Prize ($5 cash works as well)
• Two Pies or Large Dessert for the Dinner – Groups 1 & 2
• Cake for the Cake Walk – Group 3
Groups 1 & 2 are responsible for clean-up after the Bazaar.
Bachelors may donate $15 instead of providing items for the Dinner.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Blest Art will be visiting your parish
THIS WEEKEND on behalf of the Christian families in Bethlehem, Palestine. Our mission is to support those families in the Holy Land.

For centuries, the Christians in and around Bethlehem have earned a living by carving religious olive wood art to sell to visiting pilgrims. Fewer pilgrims are journeying to the Holy Land today, making it difficult for those Christians to support their families. Blest Art Inc helps the struggling Christian families of Bethlehem by marketing their artwork in the United States. We will have hand-carved nativity sets, statues, crosses, rosaries, and many other pieces of beautiful olive wood art. We kindly invite you to visit our display and to consider purchasing a piece of art from the Holy Land. In doing so, you will help support the many families who depend on this form or art for their living. We gladly accept cash, checks, and all major credit cards. Please note that we do not ask for, nor do we accept, any donations.

Tri-Parish Prayer List – We want to pray for the ill and others in our parishes who need ongoing prayer. To be placed on or to place someone on our prayer list, please call: Sue Peterson 608-735-4865, Bonnie Murphy 608-386-4954, or Ica Boylen 608-734-3287.

Pro Life Dance Party: Friday, August 22 at 1604 Wisconsin Ave., Boscobel starting at 5:00 PM. Sponsored by Life Guardians.

Healing Service – Cashton Experience God's supernatural love! Join us at Sacred Heart Church, 1223 Front St., Cashton on Friday, Sept. 12 for Adoration & Confession at 4:30 PM, Mass at 5:30 PM, and Healing Prayer to follow. This evening is not only about physical healing but also about encountering Jesus and meeting the Divine Physician, who heals the heart, mind, and soul. Jesus promised, "They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover." (Mark 16:17) Contact: Sara Clements, 608-385-5285